Lone Elephant Strays Into Odisha Village, Sparks Night-Long Panic
“We heard loud noises and realised an elephant had entered the village. Everyone switched off lights and stayed inside their houses”: Local resident
BHUBANESWAR: Residents of Khandiabandha village under the Ranpur Range in Odisha’s Nayagarh district spent a tense night on Friday after a lone elephant, believed to have strayed from its herd, entered the village and roamed around for over an hour.
The elephant reportedly entered the habitation late at night, prompting villagers to shut themselves indoors in fear.
“We heard loud noises and realised an elephant had entered the village. Everyone switched off lights and stayed inside their houses,” said a local resident.
Alarmed villagers immediately informed the forest department. A forest official said the situation was closely monitored.
“Our staff reached the area and tracked the elephant’s movement. Fortunately, it did not damage any houses or crops and moved back into the forest on its own,” the official said.
Though no injuries or property damage were reported, the incident triggered panic due to the animal’s close proximity to homes. “Children and elderly people were terrified. We have seen elephants nearby earlier, but this is the first time one entered the village,” another villager said.
Forest officials said a close watch is being maintained to prevent the elephant from re-entering human settlements. “Villagers have been advised to remain alert, avoid venturing out at night and immediately alert us if the animal is sighted again,” the official added.
Authorities said precautionary measures are being taken to ensure the safety of both villagers and wildlife, while efforts continue to track the elephant’s movement in the Ranpur forest range.